An 87-year-old artist is exhibiting his paintings at The Larder in Preston City Centre. Harry Hindle started painting nearly three decades ago following a heart attack. Since then, he has taught oil painting and calligraphy, as well as creating his own work. We spoke to Harry as his exhibition was being installed by Joey from Art at The Larder.

Former nurse Harry was 60 when he had a heart attack.

“I’d always kept myself fit playing badminton,” said Harry. “But my consultant said I should’ve died, three of my arteries were blocked.”

As part of his recovery, he started to paint, taught by Harry Caunce, an artist based in Mellor. He began by learning to paint in watercolours, followed by oil paints.

“He guided me through and others would watch,” said Harry. “It’s just creativity, it takes your mind off your problems.”

Harry took classes for seven years before starting to teach himself. He then began teaching one class a week for over 55s in Clitheroe. As the years passed he went on to teach more classes, including calligraphy to Japanese students.

“Teaching is terrific,” said Harry. “Some people I have taught are much better painters than I am now. I’m really proud of them.”

Harry only stopped teaching at the start of the pandemic, due to the lockdown. He has always enjoyed working with people. With a career that spans working as a draughtsman and a period in the military, Harry began working with young people in 1975, when he was in his mid 30s.

Harry takes great pride in telling me about the young adults with learning disabilities who attended the youth club where he worked. He was a great believer in teaching people skills to help them live more independently, so they weren’t as dependent on their parents or grandparents, as well as encouraging confidence through acting and music classes.

Read more: Two new music groups launching at Cottam Community Centre

“I encouraged the people I was working with to enter a talent competition,” said Harry. “Eleven towns from the north were represented at the competition. There wasn’t a venue, at the time I knew Vince Sumner the manager of The Guild Hall and he let us use the premises. It was very successful and we won! We travelled to perform at another competition in London, where we were highly commended but unfortunately, we didn’t win.”

Youth work helped Harry decide that he wanted to become a nurse. He went on to forge a successful career as a charge nurse working with people with learning disabilities and mental health issues.

“I just felt like I had an affinity with people and wanted to get them out of the hospitals and institutions.”

Harry has 16 paintings on display at The Larder, ranging from Happy Days, a cosy watercolour painting depicting an afternoon tea and dog resting by an open fire, to Global Warming, an oil painting of a farm gate nearly submerged by water from the River Ribble on Longton Marsh. Also on display are a collection of Harry’s calming seascapes.

Twenty five per cent of the sale of each of Harry’s paintings goes to fund The Larder’s community projects.

Read more: The Larder’s community kitchen seeking to address food and fuel poverty in Preston

“There’s something for everyone on display at Harry’s exhibition,” said Joey from Art at The Larder.

“You’ve got to capture the beauty in the world,” said Harry. “I would just like people to be calm, peaceful, and get on with each other.”

Harry Hindle’s paintings are on display at The Larder at 50 Lancaster Road until Thursday 20 October.

A Meet the Artist event will be taking place with Harry. Follow the Art at The Larder Facebook page for details coming soon.

Read more: See the latest Preston news and headlines